Author: Chauntel Ensey

While teaching a class at Knit & Pearl last night I saw she had some cute cotton, reversible project bags hanging in the window. My brain started buzzing!

Today I decided I needed to gift one of my dearest friends a sweater that I have been planning for her for a year or so. The project needed a home so I made myself one of these!

I used 2 fat quarters and about 2 yards of velvet ribbon for the drawstring handles.

No pockets or anything, just somewhere to put a project to take with me and keep it protected.

Oh & it is reversible too!!
That makes me ecstatically happy even though I most likely won’t put the darker hand-dyed fabric on the outside, I like the asian print better ;o)

So, there you have it. NO more info on the gift sweater.

Ssssshhhhh It’s a secret……

I have finished a few things & doing my darndest to get my camera to take a few decent photos to show you all. I actually have gone back to using my old school 2.0MP fuji finepix camera. I have more options with it. Sad & a little scary ;o)

Of course we don’t need to talk about the fact that my Minolta dslr is still not fixed. I am too scared of how much it’s going to cost to take it in.

On to knitting.

I finished the BSJ for my sister’s baby.

I used Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted on size 6 needles to match gauge.

I also finished all the pieces and the collar on the Julia. Now it’s just time to sew the sleeves in.

That is the most true to life photo of the color I have come up with. I love it!

mmmmmm….fluffy yarn

I will give all details with finished photos.

My mom’s birthday is June 21st and I am tired of making her socks. I don’t think she would admit it but I think she’s tired of getting socks.  So, I decided to do something different.  She loves handmade gifts for the kitchen. My husband made her a hutch/cabinet/buffet for the kitchen a few years ago. They antiqued it a light butter yellow so I thought some fun placemats in the color of the decor would go swimmingly.

They are 17″ x 12″, crocheted in Peaches & Creme cottons using an F hook.

I am pleased with how they are turning out. I plan on doing a set of 4 with 2 being yellow with a blue stripe (as shown above) and 2 being blue with a yellow stripe.  I may throw in a few tunisian crochet hot pot holders too.

Speaking of cotton….ahem…the picnic blanket has reared it’s head again!

That is a stack of 25 squares that I made yesterday. I have 21 left to go and will be totally done with the crocheting of squares for the blanket. Since I have been assembling it as I went I will only have to sew on this last round of squares, weave in a few ends (I crocheted most in as I went I just haven’t cut them off yet) and be done! I do plan on making a carrying bag for the blanket for ease of portability. I have a feeling I am going to whip a striped one out on the knitting machine using all the same yarns, then attach handles. I may end up buying some webbing or another strong handle fabric instead of knitting or crocheting a handle. I want it strong, this sucker is heavy!

And I have to show off my lovely quilted coasters from Tracy.

That is some of my favorite fabric so I am very happy she chose it for me!

Thanks Tracy, I love them of course!!!

I thought I could get enough yardage from the Velvet Grapes merino roving but I couldn’t. So, I am planning on figuring something else out. Not sure what yet. I like the idea of using Valley Yarns 2/10 Merino Tencel Lace Colrain Yarn Chocolate.

I only need one cone so it’s a relatively inexpensive way to go.

Or, I will at the last minute choose something from my stash ;o)

Being a procrastinator I am honest & open that I will put it off until the very last minute now that I planned ahead & my plan failed!

I am currently being a monogamist and working on Julia. Her front, back and one sleeve are complete. I am working on the second sleeve and hope to finish it tomorrow night. Then the sewing toghether and blocking on Wednesday if all goes well. Thursday I can move on! yay! I get to choose a new project to cast on and I have a feeling it’s a blanket. I need another blanket project like I need a hole in the head but I just can’t help myself.

EDIT: I ended up ordering Chocolate lace wool from 100 Pure Wool. Amazingly soft yarns and their colors are to die for!

I sat here thinking long & hard about what yarn to use for the Goddess Knits Anniversary shawl (see previous post). What sprung to mind was spinning my own yarn! Duh! I have had laceweight merino yarn on the spinning wheel for a year & not finished it. Now is the time.

That is the velvet grapes merino roving from Handpaintedyarn.com.

Here it is on the spindle.

And here is the roving all prepped and ready to be spun.

I think it’s going to be perfect for the shawl. Soft flowing color changes randomly knit throughout.

Now I am really looking forward to the knitalong!

I know, I know. I have been bad. I could use the excuse that Ravelry has sucked all my time from updating my blog but that isn’t exactly true.  I have sat here a number of times staring blankly at the screen trying to come up with something else to do online and blogging wasn’t on my mind I guess!

I had been working on a few different things. I finished mom’s Blush socks for Mother’s Day as well as a pair of Jaywalkers for her.  She loved them! After they were finished I had a bit of that lost feeling about what to work on next. I grabbed the BSJ for my class I am teaching at Knit & Pearl. Got through most of it and got bored.
Tracy gave me the inspiration for a new project and I finally couldn’t resist casting on.

It’s the Julia sweater from RYC Classic Summer Book Eleven. I am using Rowan RYC Cashcotton 4ply in Cyclamen (pink).

The yarn is amazing to work with; smooth, soft, doesn’t split or catch on the needles or my rough forefinger.  The pattern works up rather quickly as well.  Of course, it’s a Rowan pattern so it’s well written with just enough details so you’re not left questioning anything.

I have the back finished and about 1/3 of the front done.  My goal is to be done with it by the start of the Goddess Knits Anniversary Shawl Knit-along on June 14th (found here as a yahoo group, signups close soon).

I am not sure what yarn I want to use for the Anniversary shawl.  I need 1250 yards.  I have a number of laceweight yarns in my stash with enough yardage.  I just have to decide what color I want, if I want it silky or woolly and how lightweight I want the finished fabric to be.  I seriously am confounded when I try to decide.

Other than that there isn’t much else going on around here. The usual end of school craziness, kids being kids, etc. I have been doing a lot of micro organizing; catch-all drawers & boxes that end up with a mixture of tools, office supplies, paper goods, knitting and sewing accessories.  Closets are next.  I love cleaning out, throwing away what can’t be passed on to goodwill.  Ah, springtime is so freeing!

I decided the other night that the quick crochet projects make me feel good.

I hit ravelry to take a look at crocheted shawl patterns for something a little different than my typical lace shawl.

Here is what I found!

The Cold Shoulder from Stitch ‘N Bitch Crochet Happy Hooker

 

 

I used an acrylic ‘mohair’ that I have had for years & years! Using a K hook and just under 300 yards it took me a total of about 4 hours to crochet.

It’s soft, cuddly and oh so cute!

Thank you to my dining chair for modeling for me.

Tracy splurged & bought me a huge ball of the Noro Taiyo cotton blend yarn in the Color 02.

 

I love this yarn!!

On Saturday she brought it over & we went on a pattern hunt.

We found the Mermaid Scarf from Interweave Crochet & went to work.

 

By that night I had myself a scarf!

 

I love how it turned out!

 

 

It’s a fantastic pattern for a self-striping yarn like this.

The yarn itself is wonderful to work with. Soft on the hands, easy to crochet, beautiful color changes. I will defenitely be buying more of this yarn!

Tracy was kind enough to take some pictures of me in the newly finished Trapeze Jacket last night at knitting.

 

Details: Trapeze Jacket by Jordana Paige

Silky Wool Yarn by Elsebeth Lavold~ color 014 Olive

Size 6US needles

 

Of course there are some funny shots, she likes those candids. I may put a few on the bottom to amuse her.

 

 

Twirling is always fun, or was I flapping?

 

 

There, seen enough? Great!

The buttonholes are hidden in the inside of the placket. That made me very happy!

 

 

These are buttons I had on hand. I am not sure I will keep them, if I find something better I will defenitely change them.

 

Overall, the fit is perfect. The pattern is written very well. The top down construction is as perfect a sweater design as you could ask for.

 I will say though, that the 1×1 slip stitch ribbing pattern gets very old after a while.

That is why it took me from September ’07 through yesterday to get it finished. Granted, I did put it down in October & didn’t pick it up again until 2 days ago.

I would recommend this pattern to anyone that doesn’t expect to finish a sweater lickity-split. If you like taking your time and enjoy the yarn, the process of knitting, then you will love this sweater project!

I know, I started it way back in September of last year. I know I said I would be done with it by December. I know, I know!

But, it’s done now. Complete!

I don’t have pictures yet. They need to do it justice.

I promise, good ones!

 

Oh, and I made a quickie Mermaid Scarf on Saturday using a (giant) ball of Noro Taiyo. It’s so cute. Pictures of it to come soon too ;o) Promise!

Here is the weather from yesterday:

Current Conditions – 99.1F / 37.3C | Clear – 3:20 PM PDT Apr. 27

Temperature: 99.1°F / 37.3°C | Humidity: 16% | Pressure: 29.91in / 1012.8hPa (Steady) | Conditions: Clear | Wind Direction: SE | Wind Speed: 5.4mph / 8.7km/h
How freakin’ disgusting is that? I wouldn’t be surprised if we actually didn’t top that for the rest of the year! Our average temp is 68F. I say we got that beat! It’s better today, only 81F right now. That’s liveable.